No.030 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

L=59cm

Rank : 2
Winter Visitor
Male: The greene="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">chestnuttyle:normal">yellowish look alike Spot-billed Duck on first sight, butthe latter can be identified with its distinctive bill. This duck usuallyvisits Asakawa River basin in October. Like other ducks, the sighting numberof this species has been declining in this area.east-font-family: "lr SVbN"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"">This species likes large ponds and lakes. In Hachioji, we often see the birdin the pond of Takatsuki Water Treatment Plant as well as in Asakawa River,where several of them sometimes mix with other kinds of ducks. Omnivorousand eat grass seeds, worms and insects. Although feeding themselves duringdaytime, they also forage in rice paddy fields at night. In Hachioji,however, rice paddies have decreased drastically, depriving the species oftheir feeding grounds. Rice paddies play an important role not only in ricecultivation, but also for the survival of living matter. We should haveanother look at the role of rice paddies, and try not to reduce them anyfurther.

Mallard  Adult (right), (left)

Mallard  (Adult )